by Jade Royal
“Selena, can you please go stay with Bliss? She’s asleep, but I just want to make sure she’s comfortable and feels no type of pain.”
“Yes,” Selena replied. She rushed away to follow out Kellan’s orders.
“What happened?” He asked sternly to the rest of the pack.
“I don’t know. One minute we were talking and then the next minute she was growling and upset,” Rita answered.
“Purple smoke rose up from her back, but we have no clue where it came from or how it even managed to touch her. We were in a flower bed. None of the flowers were wolfsbane.”
Kellan paced. That meant someone deliberately attacked his mate and no one knew who did it.
“No one sensed anything? Heard anything?”
“Nothing,” Kyra said. She smacked herself on the forehead. “I’m sorry Kellan I should have been paying attention. I should have known better than to let my guard down. I’ll accept any punishment that-”
“Stop that Kyra I’m not gonna punish anyone. At the end of the day, I’m her mate, and I myself was distracted. I won’t put blame on anyone but the person who inflicted the pain on her.”
“So what do we do?” Rita asked. “I’m tired of being attacked. How do we get these muthafuckers? What’s worse is the fact that they went after our pregnant alpha female. It’s like they know it’s the one thing that’ll put our guards down.” Her statement resonated with Kellan.
“All three of you were out in the open right? So it could have been any of you that were hit?” Kellan asked.
“Yes,” Kyra answered.
“So either it was a hunter who just picked Bliss at random. Or it was someone else who knew to pick Bliss. One, because she’s pregnant and two because she’s the alpha female. But a human would care less about her being pregnant or even understand what it means to be an alpha. So are we looking at coincidence or something that was planned?”
“I don’t like coincidences,” Tristan said shaking his head. “ That warehouse, it was completely empty. We assumed they moved on but what if people just bought the weapons or something?”
“The only way we find out is if we go into town and start asking questions. No doubt someone that’s hanging around that place is going to give us answers. Like Rita said, I’m tired of being attacked. For once we need to be on the offense. They’re fucking around with our pack like they don’t see us as a threat… and I’m pretty sure we’re threatening,” Jayce said.
“Anything we plan will have to wait until after the full moon. Then it’s all hands on deck,” Kellan said.
Zander ran into the caves, skidding to a stop. He was yanking on his jeans as he ran inside, his fur still receding back into his skin. He had shifted in a hurry.
“Is Bliss okay?” he huffed out.
“She’s okay. Gemma managed to keep her from shifting.”
“Oh thank goodness,” he breathed out holding his chest. He took a deep breath to calm his racing heart.
“Where did you go?” Kellan asked him.
“I was searching the woods for whoever might have done something to Bliss,” he answered. Kellan didn’t sense a lie.
“It hasn’t been that long. How much of the woods did you search?”
“Plenty,” he gasped pointing to his chest. He opened his hand and showed Kellan what looked like a dart. When Kellan tried to take it, Zander moved his hand.
“It had wolfsbane on it,” he said. “We shouldn’t risk you touching it. I found it some feet behind where Bliss was sitting. Based on where it landed I followed a path that it could have come from.”
“And?” Kellan asked. Zander smiled.
“I got a scent,” he replied. “If the person who did this comes around again I’ll know exactly who it is.”
“You did all of that in the amount of time you were gone?” Kellan couldn’t believe it.
“I used to get beat up a lot, I learned how to run pretty quickly over the years. I found the scent and tried to track its owner, but they were well gone. So I just came back.”
“You know Kellan; he is really quick,” Tristan said. “Saw it for myself.”
“And he wants to be an enforcer,” Jaxson added. Kellan nodded at him.
“After we deal with this situation you can start your training,” Kellan said. Zander bowed his head.
“Let’s get through this full moon in one piece, and then we will be launching into action. Gemma I may need you during the full moon to help with Bliss. If you can keep her from shifting she can have a much easier night.”
“I’ll be happy to help.”
“Tristan, I’ll need you too, for extra man power. Jayce, you can lead the pack on a run once you’ve shifted while me, Gemma and Tristan stay with Bliss. The three of you are responsible for bringing every female back here unharmed.” Kellan pointed at Jaxson, Jayce, and Zander.
“Me?” Zander questioned.
“Yes, you. Unless you can’t handle it?”
“No, no I can handle it!”
“Good. The suns still out so you all can go and enjoy it. No one wanders off by themselves. I’ll be with Bliss and the pup.”
“Give her our love,” Jayce said.
“I’m sure she can feel it,” Kellan replied softly. He smiled weakly and left his pack. In that moment Tristan knew how strong Kellan was, but saw how weak he became because of the love he had for Bliss. That kind of weakness wasn’t something horrible, not in the least. It was going to make Kellan even stronger knowing that he had his woman to protect and he was never going to lose her. Tristan looked at Gemma. He knew he would bow down to her anytime she asked because he already felt himself weakened by her love. But he loved playing this cat and mouse game with her wolf. His wolf was enjoying it, he was enjoying it, and Gemma’s wolf was enjoying it. It would only be a matter of time before Gemma herself joined in on the fun and gave herself to him.
Chapter Thirteen
Gemma felt the pulses of the full moon shiver through her body. Her wolf was geared and ready to burst out to freedom. She climbed out of bed slowly and stretched her muscles. She felt heat developing in the bottom of her stomach. She wasn’t going to be due for her heat cycle any time soon, but the full moon was bringing out her craving for her mate. During the full moon, everything intensified for wolves. Being that Gemma still hadn’t mated Tristan, the longing she had for him was going to multiply. She would barely be at the edge of control, but being that she needed to help Bliss get through the full moon, she needed to get her shit together and keep it together.
A soft knock came at her door. She smelled Tristan through the thick wooden doors. She still hadn’t spoken to him and didn’t even want to speak to him. She was going to do what Niles told her, but at the same time, she wanted him to feel a little burn for the comments he made in the first place. But her wolf made her turn straight around and open her door. She grunted at her animal but let the wolf do what it wanted. She opened the door and glared up at him.
“What?” she growled.
“Came to make sure you can shift alright,” he commented.
“We’re supposed to go and help Bliss-”
“And we will. But you need to shift first before you go to her. If you can’t control your animal then ain’t no way you can help her.” Gemma only grunted.
“Whatever.” She walked away from the door knowing it was no use to argue with him. He came into the room and shut the door. She leaned against the oak dresser in the room while he sat down on her bed. He looked through his phone casually like the moon wasn’t about to shine bright in the sky forcefully changing him into a wolf. All she could do was stand there uncomfortably. Tristan sensed her irritability. Her wolf was probably too ready to emerge, and with what he learned of her animal, it made sense that she would be ready to take over Gemma eagerly and forcefully.
“Come here,” he ordered her. Gemma, of course, resisting as he knew she would just shook her head and stayed where she was. Grunting, Tristan stood. He went ove
r to her and took her by the wrists and dragged her to the bed. He forced her to sit down.
“Move one inch, and I’ll lay you across my lap and spank your ass,” he threatened her. Gemma glared at him but stayed put. He winked at her before sitting next to her and pulling her into his body. He wrapped an arm around her and held her close. He stroked her shoulder with one hand while the other he used to keep scrolling on his phone. Gemma wanted to object, but her mouth was glued shut. Firstly, because of how he spoke to her and handled her, but secondly because her wolf was calm. She was ready to use the power of the moon to emerge, but she wasn’t so volatile to do so. She was lying down lazily; her tongue flopped out. It was Tristan’s doing of course. Gemma could hardly be upset at the man that was keeping her wolf calm. Besides, she was enjoying his scent anyways.
“You’re a dick for saying what you did to Bliss you know,” she said. He sighed and put his phone down.
“I know it was. It was something I haven’t ever thought to confess. In truth, I should have confessed it to you. Along with everything else I am feeling. But at the end of the day, I just couldn’t help how I felt.”
“So what? Are you still conflicted about being with me?” she asked. “And tell the truth.” Tristan was silent. If he didn’t fix his words correctly, he could definitely screw this up.
“I want to be with you, Gemma.”
“Why do I feel like there’s a ‘but’ coming?” Gemma asked.
“There is no but,” he replied.
“When I asked you to fuck me you declined. That’s reason enough for a ‘but.’ So you want to be with me ‘but’ what?”
“There is no but Gemma. I want to be with you, and I think we should continue to get to know one another. Like that singing, you did for Bliss. I had no idea my woman knew how to sing.”
“Just because we’re mates doesn’t mean I’m your woman,” she sighed.
“Stop that,” he said sternly. He leaned over and kissed her pouty mouth. Gemma wanted to melt into his touch, but she forced herself not to. She shifted her head making their lips separate.
“Think you can just say things in a certain way because my wolf would like it and you’ll be off the hook?” Gemma asked him.
“Yes, actually I do think so.”
“Well think again. My wolf is only half of me, Tristan. Just because you woo my wolf does not mean you’ll woo me.”
“So what you saying? Your wolf likes me, but you don’t? Which we both know is a lie.” Gemma snarled at him. She hated how he was so calm and collected while she was going crazy.
“Since you viewed yourself as such a pedophile Tristan, I went to someone to wouldn’t think that way of me, someone who would see me as a woman.” His face turned grim, and Gemma realized she finally had him.
“Niles thinks I’m an amazing woman.”
“If I were you I wouldn’t go there,” he spoke lowly but fiercely.
“My wolf wants you Tristan, but don’t for one second think you’ve got me won over. As far as I’m concerned Niles could be the one you know. We can make it work. Plus, he’s a real good kisser.” Tristan hopped to his feet in under a second. He stood in Gemma’s face growling at her, intensity of his wolf eyes burning a hole through her soul.
“You’re just saying that to tick me off ain’t you?” he growled lowly at her.
“Bout time you shared some of my anger,” she replied just as menacing.
“You were kissing on him?” he asked. Gemma winced. His voice lost its hot edge, and he spoke with hurt. She almost regretted saying it to him, but she did have to stand her ground.
“What can I say? He appreciates my womanliness. You know, things like my body. Touching me and kissing me.”
“You don’t think I appreciate your womanliness?” he questioned. Gemma didn’t respond. She just crossed her arms and looked at him. Tristan wasn’t angry because she’d kissed Niles. All bets were off on that subject because once he’d found out, she was his mate he still hadn’t let go of Chloe. He’d stopped having sex with Chloe and being intimate with her, but still, they dated. What angered Tristan was the fact that she didn’t feel appreciated. He needed her to feel that from him. Even if he looked and didn’t touch, he always appreciated her. And as someone’s mate, you should always feel appreciated.
“If you appreciated it, Tristan, then you would have done something that made me feel that way. I get that maybe it seems I’m not ready but-” Tristan silenced her with a kiss to her lips.
“I appreciate how soft and supple your lips are,” he whispered to her. Gemma blinked trying to get her brain to respond, but none of her bodily functions were working. He held both of her arms and slowly caressed her.
“I appreciate how soft your skin feels against my rough hands,” he said. Drawing her even closer to him he rubbed his lips against her neck before kissing her there. Gemma closed her eyes and tried to control her breathing as his tongue flicked out and swirled against the skin of her nape.
“I appreciate how your breathing falters when I kiss you on your neck.” One of his canines dropped as he used it to graze it against her neck. She jumped about 20 feet in the air at the feel of his teeth on her skin. He chuckled and continued to hold her. He moved from her neck and placed his finger under her chin, moving her head to the right slowly before he kissed her deeply. Gemma faltered again, not sure how to accept his deep kissing.
“Open your mouth wider,” he coaxed her. He kissed her again. She opened her mouth like he told her to and that increased the amount of tongue she was able to give and receive. With him pressing against her body she felt every inch of his arousal, and it made her want to pull away. She wanted to handle something like that but could she? That was the question. He slowly pulled from her lips leaving her aching for more.
“I appreciate you allowing me to teach you,” he breathed. Still holding her; he led her to the bed. Gemma’s breathing stopped for a second as he laid her down in the middle of the soft mattress. He climbed on top of her with his knees keeping her legs closed. He kissed her lips once, and then moved down to her neck and slowly down to the apex of her breasts. He whipped a claw out and ripped down the middle of her shirt. She wasn’t wearing a bra, so the first thing he saw was her perfect nipples aching for attention.
“I appreciate how round and full your breasts are,” he said as he cupped them with his hands. Gemma was silently praising the heavens that when she shifted for the first time coming into puberty, her breasts had grown fuller and her hips had swelled. If Tristan had ever seen her before she shifted he would have seen nothing but two gumdrops. She was sure he wouldn’t appreciate that.
Gemma winced as he ran his thumbs over her sensitive nipples. They were tight and aching, needing to be touched more. As if reading her mind, he lowered himself and licked across one of her nipples with the flat of his tongue. Gemma gasped and looked down at him as he took both her breasts and squeezed them together before sucking them both into his mouth at the same time. The achiness in them quickly evaporated as he sucked them tenderly, showing them love and care. Not to mention her pussy was leaking juices she never even thought it could leak under his ministration. He popped a breast from his mouth and smiled down at her. His smile showed off his boyish charm as he continued to kiss down her body. He pulled at the scraps left of her shirt and threw it behind him, getting rid of the material for good. He kissed her quivering belly before continuing to go lower. When he reached her shorts, he unclasped them.
“Are you okay my Gem?” he asked heavily, his hands ready to pull her shorts down.
“I’m okay,” she croaked, her voice barely there. But he heard her, and he slowly pulled down her shorts and threw them behind him too. She was commando underneath. His wolf eyes lit up when he saw her completely naked body.
“I appreciate you mowing the lawn but keeping a neatly trimmed patch for me,” he said fingering the hair on her pussy. He sat back on his knees with her legs open in front of him, and he just sat ther
e staring at her. Gemma forced herself not to feel embarrassed. This was her mate. He was supposed to know what every inch of her looked like.
“I appreciate how wet you are for me,” he told her. He twirled a finger over her throbbing clit. She jerked her hips up as the pleasure zinged through her. He pushed her hips back down to the bed.
“Easy now baby,” he soothed her. He rubbed her abdomen while his finger continued to rub circles over her clit.
“I-I’ve-” she was lost for words. During her heating, she had used a vibrator against her clit that had made her come repeatedly and filled her body with enough pleasure to satisfy her heating. But there was nothing like being touched by your mate. No vibrator or toy could compare to that. His finger went in fast circles until a release was leaking down her ass and onto the bed sheets. He touched the opening of her center. Gemma snapped her legs shut, the feeling way too new for her.
“It’s okay my Gem. I’ll take care of you,” he said easing her legs open.
“Nothing’s ever been in there. Not even my fingers,” she admitted.
“I won’t give you more than you can take Gemma. Trust me.” She let him open her legs again. He caressed her thighs until she was completely relaxed. He traced her outer lips and her small entrance.
“Take a deep breath into your nose and then release it through your mouth,” he coached her. Gemma nodded then closed her eyes. She breathed in deep and the moment she exhaled through her mouth he slipped his middle finger inside her. She gasped at the sensation, her shifter healing quickly and erasing the twinge of pain that plagued her. But nothing took away the strange feeling of having something inside her.
“So that’s what it feels like,” she commented, her eyes snapped shut. He moved his finger inside her before beginning to stroke her.
“Damn Gemma,” he breathed. His teeth had burst from his gums, and they seemed larger than she’d ever seen them before. He stroked her in and out, each time going deeper. The strange feeling slipped away the more he continued. She could hear the wetness inside of her sloshing around as he played with her insides. He pressed on something inside of her that made her stomach tingle. Her eyes widened as she felt the urge to pee, but it was too late. She erupted in pleasure again. He jerked his finger as fluids began squirting out of her. Her back arched as she continued to cum , unable to stop it from leaking out of her. Tristan pressed his palm against her stomach, further amplifying the tingling through her stomach. When she couldn’t take it anymore, she batted away at his hands. He pulled his finger out immediately. Gemma wanted to cry. He sensed it immediately.
